ph0ebus

Hi all, I picked up this bayonet a few days ago in a shop in Massachusetts. It was tagged as a WWI American Bayonet, but it looks like a K98 bayonet to me. It has matching numbers and leather frog. Cost me $60 USD. What do you think?

Hi all, I have been given two photos of my great grandfather who was British born but lived much of his life in New Jersey, USA. In each he is wearing some sort of medal and I am hoping someone has some sort of notion as to whether they are Masonic or not? Photo one, early in his life: A grainy closeup: Pic 2 (sorry it is so tiny!): Closeup of the medal: Any ideas as to what these are would be greatly appreciated. I have no idea what became of the medals themselves, sadly. Thanks, -Daniel

Hi all, In helping my mom sort through my father's toolbench, I came across the following item: In doing a little basic research on them online I found the following: POLAROID NO.1021 ALL PURPOSE GOGGLE KIT, WWII ISSUE: This set of goggles is complete with all the different color lenses and the original soft roll type case. These were used from flight crews to the Tank Corps for drivers. Except, my dad was in Field Artillery. Were these common amongst all US Army troops? I am not sure why he had them. The kit, by the way, is in fine shape and is complete, with all lenses int

Hi Chris, all... Sorry for the lag in replying....life got in the way. Here is some information on the life of Hans and his military career...a good place to start I hope: http://www.irishbrigade.eu/other-men/germans/boehm/boehm.html If you need more info or need details, please let me know and I will ask my pal and see if he has the answers you seek. Thanks again, Daniel

Hi all, I am assisting someone who is researching the Great War German spy Hans Boehm; he writes: Hans Boehm was a German spy who had a very interesting career. I came across him in researching Casement's Irish Brigade. Boehm was involved with the running of the Irish Brigade, but (probably) only so that the Germans could get an introduction to American Irish prepared to help Germany The FBI have hundreds of pages on him. They intercepted a letter from his (American) wife living in Germany to her mother in Oregon, in which she says that on 1 Nov 1915 "Today he received the Ir

Hi all, Sorry for the delay in posting these....got caught up in home renovations that took longer than expected. here's my grandfather with EKII ribbon in his buttonhole (circa May 1917): And here is his brother Simon with his EKII ribbon on a ribbon bar (undated, but presumably late war): Of course, Simon is wearing the tunic sans buttonholes, which would make the wearing of the bar more sensible, but as I am new to all this, and was not sure if there was some other significance above and beyond the practicality of it. Thanks again, Daniel

Hi Hugh, all... Thanks for the clarification. I am away from my computer at present but will post photos as soon as I have access. Thanks, Daniel

Hi all, Please have a look at this fellow's hat: Is his hat supposed to look like that? I have never seen one quite like it before. Is he Prussian? In theory he should be with Reserve Feldartillerie Regiment Nr. 5, serving with my great uncle Gefr. Simon. Stern. Here's 'hat man' in context: My great uncle is 2nd from the right. On the back of the photo is "Mein bruder am Winterberg". Any thoughts about the odd hat, and whether folks think this is RFAR 5 or not, would be greatly appreciated. Thanks, -Daniel

Hi all, Apologies if this is a basic question, and I was unable to locate a previous thread on this question using the search feature. My question relates to two family pictures I have, one of my grandfather (Emanuel) and another of his brother (Simon). Both were awarded the EKII, but while my grandfather wears his EKII ribbon through his buttonhole, his brother wears it on a ribbon bar on his left breast. My grandfather was with Feldartillerie Regiment Nr. 43, and his brother was with Reserve Feldartillerie Regiment Nr 5, though I am not 100% certain Simon was still with RFAR5 at the ti

Too bad there is not some forensic test/method of anaylsis one could do to draw out the original names from the metal..... ....is there? -Daniel

Excellent! Seems like we are on the right path. I had a few family postcards like this and figured, hey, if he is writing to family, maybe his name is Rühl. of course, had I been able to read German I might have formed a better theory than that! -Daniel

Hi Andy, I am assuming you already checked around under the name Rühl? I wish I were better at reading and translating the old script, and could make out his signature at the end, if that is in fact what that is. Looking for KIAs on weltkriegsopfer.de with that last name I see 18 possible candidates. -Daniel

Hi Chris, Thanks for the recommendation. Very clear and gets right to the heart of the matter. Thanks! -Daniel

Hi Chip, It is funny you mention that because I just bought that very book! I am only about 30 pages in and already I am getting quite an education. Thanks again, -Daniel

Hi Phil, From my own experience, there are three ways you can determine how your man earned his EKII, each quite daunting and likely to end in heartache (or at least heartburn!): (1) get a copy of this man's Soldbuch. In there, in theory, there should be a notation of when & where he was wounded/went to the feldlazarette, etc. with some basic details. (2) locate a copy of the relevant Unit History and, if it is one of the better ones with a roll of dead and wounded in it, look up you man therein (3) wait until Landesamt für Gesundheit und Soziales (LAGeSo) reopens to research inqu